Richard Ostler still enjoys playing basketball in a pickup league once a week with friends.
"I enjoy playing with a team. I enjoy keeping fit on a weekly basis," he explains.
He admits that he is quite tall so has an advantage over most players. Along with being a weekend warrior, Ostler is also president of the Delbrook Steve Nash Youth Basketball League and says as players progress into higher ages and levels size becomes a part of the game. But for most younger players, success on the court comes from hard work and being determined to improve their skills.
The Delbrook league has been on the North Shore for more than a decade and offers a regular basketball program for boys and girls in grades 2-10, and for boys only in grades 11 and 12.
They play from September to March, with some players being selected to go on to local tournament play.
Each age level hosts between four and eight teams and last year the league had about 440 players in total.
Players meet for a onehour practice during the week to learn basic skills and the fundamentals of basketball, and have a local game on the weekend.
"We're focused on developing the skills of players, and a lot of these players are very keen to make their high school team, so they're trying to get an early start on learning the basics and the fundamentals of basketball so they have a good opportunity to make the team," says Ostler.
The league uses adjustable hoops and a smaller ball for its youngest players, "so it gives the younger kids an opportunity to learn the game and have success as they develop," he notes.
Grade 2 is a good age to start playing basketball because at that age kids can really start to understand the game and where they should be on the court, he adds.
Registration is now open for the league's regular season, which starts again in September and Ostler says they are always looking for more female players.
Since the league is run by volunteers, they are also looking for more volunteers.
